UMaine News

Brewer speaks with Maine Public about ranked-choice voting education

Maine Public interviewed Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, for the report, “Ranked-choice voting education campaigns underway as primaries near.” Maine voters in next month’s state primary will be the first to use ranked-choice voting for state elections, Maine Public reported. According to experts, many voters don’t understand how the system works, but they’re hopeful voter education programs can help clear up any confusion. “I suspect a fair amount of voters in June are going to show up without a full idea of what they’re doing for ranked-choice voting,” Brewer said, adding he is cautious, but sees how next month’s election could be a good test run. “I don’t think it will be as bad as it would be in November, because it is a primary with more attentive voters,” he said. Brewer said the public service messages and other education efforts are important, even if most Mainers won’t focus on the primaries until next month or until they go to the polls.